Modulation device, modulation method, light emission apparatus, and lighting fixture or signboard using light emission apparatus

Abstract

A modulation device includes: a signal input circuit that receives an external input signal and outputs the signal downstream as a first signal; and an arithmetic processor positioned downstream of the signal input circuit. The arithmetic processor is configured to: determine when an external ID signal including ID information has been input as the first signal, and when determining that an external ID signal including ID information has been input as the first signal, acquire the ID information from the external ID signal, obtain transmission timing synchronizing with the first signal based on the external ID signal, and output a light source drive signal that drives a light source according to the ID information based on the transmission timing synchronizing with the input signal.

1 . A modulation device comprising:
 a signal input circuit that receives an external input signal and outputs the signal downstream as a first signal; and   an arithmetic processor positioned downstream of the signal input circuit, the arithmetic processor being configured to:   determine when an external ID signal including ID information has been input as the first signal, and when determining that an external ID signal including ID information has been input as the first signal, acquire the ID information from the external ID signal, obtain transmission timing synchronizing with the first signal based on the external ID signal, and output a light source drive signal that drives a light source according to the ID information based on the transmission timing synchronizing with the input signal.   
     
     
         2 . The modulation device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the arithmetic processor includes   a storage that stores the ID information acquired from the external ID signal, and   a corrector that acquires the transmission timing and outputs the light source drive signal corresponding to the ID information stored in the storage based on the transmission timing.   
     
     
         3 . The modulation device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the arithmetic processor has a storage that stores the ID information acquired from the external ID signal, and   the modulation device includes a correction circuit that outputs the light source drive signal corresponding to the ID information stored in the storage based on the transmission timing.   
     
     
         4 . The modulation device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the storage outputs the stored ID information in synchronization with the external ID signal as an intermediate ID signal, and   the corrector receives the intermediate ID signal output from the storage, delays the intermediate ID signal based on the transmission timing, and outputs the delayed signal as the light source drive signal.   
     
     
         5 . The modulation device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the signal input circuit includes a light converter that converts the input signal to light energy.   
     
     
         6 . The modulation device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the arithmetic processor obtains the transmission timing based on timing of the external ID signal acquired from the external ID signal and a predetermined transmission delay of the light converter.   
     
     
         7 . The modulation device of  claim 2 , wherein
 internal ID information uniquely preset for the modulation device has been registered in the storage, and   when determining that the external ID signal has not been input in the signal input circuit, the arithmetic processor outputs the light source drive signal corresponding to the internal ID information.   
     
     
         8 . The modulation device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the storage deletes the ID information stored in the storage when a state of having no input of the external ID signal has continued for a predetermined time or longer after a last acquisition of the ID information.   
     
     
         9 . A light emission apparatus comprising:
 a light source;   a power source that supplies electric power to the light source;   a switch provided between the light source and the power source for controlling an on/off state of a connection between the light source and the power source; and   the modulation device of  claim 1 ,   
       wherein
 the modulation device blinks the light source according to the ID information by controlling the on/off state of the switch with the light source drive signal. 
 
     
     
         10 . The light emission apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a signal output circuit that outputs the light source drive signal outside the light emission apparatus based on the transmission timing. 
     
     
         11 . A lighting fixture comprising: the light emission apparatus of  claim 9  attached so that light from the light source be radiated outside; and
 a housing that accommodates the switch and the modulation device. 
 
     
     
         12 . A signboard comprising: the light source, the power source, the switch, and the modulation device of the light emission apparatus of  claim 9 ; and a housing that accommodates these components. 
     
     
         13 . A signboard comprising a housing that accommodates the light fixture of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         14 . A modulation method comprising the steps of:
 detecting an external ID signal including ID information from an external input signal;   acquiring the ID information from the external ID signal detected in the step of detecting;   obtaining transmission timing for synchronization with the input signal from receiving timing of the external ID signal detected in the step of detecting; and   outputting a light source drive signal that drives a light source according to the ID information acquired in the step of acquiring at the transmission timing for synchronization with the input signal obtained in the step of obtaining.